Summer makeup tends to smudge and fade easily, so mastering techniques to prevent smudging is crucial. Below, we share some makeup tips to keep your look fresh all day—no more worries about smudged makeup!
I bought these three new brushes purely to try something new—Leading Beauty's latest releases: a round foundation brush, a flat foundation brush, and an angled foundation brush. Each serves a distinct purpose, targeting different areas for flawless base application.
The best way to apply foundation is to dot foundation liquid, BB cream, or CC cream across your face for even coverage.
To compare effects, I applied foundation with my fingers on the left side of my face and left the right side completely bare. The left side looks better, right? Less dull and more even.
Next, I used the Round Foundation Brush from Leading Beauty. Its wooden handle feels quite comfortable to grip—a bit soft, actually. After checking the details, I learned it's made of rubberwood with a nice grain pattern.
The bristles are exceptionally fine, made of brushed fiber just 0.05mm thick—thinner than a strand of hair. The brush head feels very soft against the skin.To truly test a brush's effectiveness, you need to compare it to applying foundation by hand. The key difference lies in achieving an even, sheer finish—especially along the hairline. Unlike BB cream, which offers a lighter coverage, foundation tends to be slightly heavier. The hairline is often overlooked during application, leading to uneven foundation color.Sisters who struggle with hand application might find their makeup flaking by afternoon. The forehead is also prone to sweating, causing the makeup to melt away.Moreover, applying foundation by hand leaves your hands covered in product. I'd rather skip makeup than apply it this way—that creamy stickiness is just gross!
Instead, dot foundation across your face first. Then use a brush to blend in circular motions, following your skin's natural texture. Focus on the hairline area with back-and-forth strokes. Remember not to apply too thickly, or it'll clash with your scalp color.
You'll notice the texture of your skin really comes through. This method creates a smoother, more seamless base. The whole point of foundation is to hide pores and blemishes, so don't go for a color that's too different! Like me, if your skin has a yellow undertone, sticking to a natural shade works best.Neither too light nor too dark suits me. Another tip: if you have larger pores, opt for liquid foundation. It's slightly thicker than BB cream and offers some coverage. Using a foundation brush ensures an even, seamless finish.
Looking at just one side of my face, you can't tell the difference~~ But side by side? It's a total disaster!The difference in powder buildup, smoothness, and precision when applied by hand is stark. The buildup around the brows and on the face is significant. The quality of your base makeup directly determines the overall refinement of your look. In other words, a smooth, even base makes blush and eye makeup look better—no layered, cakey effect.
This flat-top foundation brush is what La Miao uses for spot priming. Flat-top foundation brushes were among the earliest types on the market, but one reason they had a bad reputation in the past was that they often left streaky, uneven foundation. In fact, many makeup artists still use this flat-top brush today. To be honest, this brush does require some skill and technique to use properly!
The flat foundation brush has a firmer texture, made from the same ultra-fine brushed fibers. Unlike round foundation brushes, this one is specifically designed within LingYingMei's large single-brush collection for targeted foundation application—like around the eyes, corners of the mouth, and other detailed areas. The brand's design certainly has its unique appeal.Today I'll test it for priming the upper and lower eyelids, plus the corners of the mouth and sides of the nose—areas prone to smudging and oiliness.
No need for lengthy instructions—simply pick up an appropriate amount of foundation and sweep horizontally from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye. Don't mind my eyeliner—years ago, in my youthful recklessness, I got it tattooed, and now the color has faded terribly. Anyway, back to the point: eye primer!Just use the brush to sweep back and forth horizontally—that's all it takes!
For the inner corner, Old Meow recommends opening your eyes, looking upward, and gently lifting the inner eyelid with your finger—but don't pull too hard!This ensures every detail gets even coverage. Do the same for the outer corner—many hard-to-reach spots. If the brush tip is sharp, don't press too hard! You don't want to poke your eye. Just gently sweep back and forth to blend it out.
This is how you apply it on the upper eyelid. Blink back and forth—the foundation on your eyelid will form streaks. Don't tell me you've never experienced this!!!Also, the inner corner treatment—the skin on the right side is noticeably smoother. I bought this flat angled foundation brush purely out of curiosity. Its brush head features a cylindrical, angled-cut design. From the front, the bristles appear quite dense, feeling denser than the previous two foundation brushes. Its softness falls between a flat-top foundation brush and a round-top foundation brush—the flat-top is stiffer, while the round-top is softer.
Close-up of the curve—copied from the product manual~~ This brush is meant to lift facial contours. Got the gist of its function, but remember this, everyone! Skin has memory~~ Same goes for your daily skincare routine—if you keep pulling down while applying products, your face will sag. It really will!!! Long-term upward lifting will make your facial skin firmer~
No need for excessive demonstration here—the skin feel is genuinely fantastic! It's incredibly soft and delicate. The angled cut design is the brush's standout feature. Technique matters, of course, and so does pressure~ Just lift upward along the jawline with the angled side facing up. I won't post before-and-after pics here—let me clarify first!You won't see results after just one or two uses—would before-and-after photos with editing even matter? But personally, it feels incredibly comfortable on my face. My jawline feels firmer, and this should be more effective than manual upward lifting. It glides smoothly. Long-term use will definitely help with sagging jawline skin—not just my opinion, but backed by scientific studies!